Sunday, September 26, 2010

I jumped on the bandwagon and bought the much sought-after H&M poncho. I love it and can see why everyone was going crazy over it. It’s comfy and stylish….and it hides those donuts you ate for breakfast. tee hee

Here's a few more poncho looks I put together:

(Keep in mind....these are only ideas. I don't suggest you spend that much on those outfits. This is coming from a girl that's wearing Target boots in the picture above)

Friday, September 24, 2010

I have always loved reading “tips” on how to do things. It can be tips about cleaning, organizing, saving time, saving money, etc. I eat that stuff UP! So I thought I’d share with you some tips I’ve found helpful. This may be a regular post I do on different topics, so if you’re interested, let me know.

Before you wear a new garment, put a little clear nail polish on the front and back of each button. Buttons will stay on longer when their threads are sealed. (thefunplace.com)

Place a piece of white chalk in your silver chest or jewel box to absorb moisture and help prevent tarnishing of silverware and jewelry. (thefunplace.com)

To clean mineral deposits from the inside of your dishwasher, pour in a container of Tang® Drink Mix and run the dishwasher (don't put dishes in the dishwasher for this load). (robbiehaf.com)

To get rid of ink marks on your clothes, put rubbing alcohol on the stain.

When cutting brownies or dessert bars, use a plastic knife. This makes cleaner edges. Make sure the brownies are cooled first;-)

To get dingy white socks white again, try soaking them in a sink of dishwasher detergent (think Cascade, not Dawn). Rinse and wash socks in a regular wash cycle with laundry detergent.

Wipe down mini-blinds with a damp fabric softener sheet. This eliminates the static that causes dust to stick. The same trick works for TV and monitor screens (not LCD).

To remove mildew stains in the corner of your shower or bath, soak a cotton ball with household bleach and place in the corners. Remove once stain is gone and rinse.

Designate days for certain tasks. For example, I fill up my car with gas on Sundays so that I start my week off with a full tank of gas. Wednesdays are my “desk day”. I pay bills, file papers, write notes, etc. If you have designated days to do tasks, you can forget about them the rest of the week.

While preparing a meal, keep a big bowl on the counter. Put all your chopping, cutting, and peeling discards into it, then make one trip to the garbage instead of 10. (realsimple.com) I saw Rachel Ray do this while she cooks. I started doing this with food scraps, packaging, etc. It really does save time!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

The fashion industry has bombarded us with the idea that “camel” is big for fall. Yeah, we know. So is military style, over-the-knee boots, blah, blah, blah.

One trend that hasn’t made quite the stir is wearing camel and gray together. Sounds weird, huh? It’s actually very chic and modern.

I was accidentally “ahead” of the trend last winter. I had a cashmere scarf with a large cream, gray, and camel check design. I wore a gray jacket with it and camel colored boots. I received tons of compliments on my outfit. There was something about that combination of colors that I loved last year, and I especially love what designers are doing with it this season.

Alexander Wang

Phillip Lim

source: Harper’s Bazaar, photograph by Daniel Jackson

I love how they’ve used darker cognac boots and accessories to ground the camel and gray combo.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

This is one of my family’s favorite soup recipes. If you omit the tortillas in the soup base, it freezes extremely well. Just cook the cilantro and garlic and add the tortillas when you thaw and reheat.

Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:

Soup Base-

1 large onion, peeled and roughly quartered (about 12 oz.)

2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

5 corn tortillas, coarsely chopped

6 cloves of fresh garlic, finely minced

1 tablespoon of fresh cilantro, chopped

2 (10 3/4 oz.) cans of tomato puree

2 (32 oz.) boxes of chicken broth

1 tablespoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons of chili powder

2 bay leaves

1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper

2 cans of whole kernel corn, drained

2 cans of black beans, drained

Toppings

Crunchy Tortilla Strips-

About 5 corn tortillas, cut into thin strips

Non-stick cooking spray

Chili powder & ground cumin for seasoning

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put tortilla strips into a medium bowl. Spray lightly with cooking spray, then sprinkle desired amount of chili powder and cumin. Toss, then lay on a nonstick baking sheet. Place in oven for about 10 minutes, then using a spatula, flip over. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes or so, or until desired crunchiness. Remove from oven and place on a plate with paper towels.

Chicken strips-

2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking oil

In a skillet, heat a few tablespoons of cooking oil over medium to medium-high heat. Once heated, add chicken strips and cook until thoroughly done.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

I love Kate Lanphear’s edgy and often androgynous style. The US Elle magazine’s style director has gained notoriety for her platinum cropped hair and ultra-structured monochromatic clothes.

Here’s few of her outfits. I love how she mixes classic pieces with studded “rocker” jewelry and boots.

Kate in Stella McCartney wedges

Love her swingy, short hair

Love this zip-away coat on the right!

Her signature leather studded bracelets

As quoted from elle.com--“That’s the thing about fashion: You can use it to hide, but it’s only magic when you use it to express who you really are."

“My style is really Pot Luck. Whatever has just come back from the dry-cleaner.” Kate Lanphear

I am such a “color” person, so I’m not sure if I could handle such a monochromatic wardrobe. I have to say though, she has a way of mixing staple pieces to make them Euro-chic. Yay or nay on Kate’s style?

About Me

I'm a Southern girl transplanted to the Midwest. As I try to adapt, I make no apologies for my accent and good manners. I love to "dish" on whatever comes to mind, whether it be my family, decorating, fashion, food, or just life in general. I'm married and have 2 wonderful daughters.